The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-17
Commissioner Edgerton Will Present Re-
port, Mr.. Lyman Will Also Have Some
thing to Say and Mr.. 0berly Has Views.
Three British Vessels and One American
Ship Seized for Illegal Sealing.
Revised Edition of the Postal Laws and Reg
ulations Almost Ready for Distribution
Other Items of Washington News.
CIvIL-sERv1CE REFORM.

All the Members of the Board Take Differ.
ent Views Of the Chicago Gases.
Special to the Inda2apolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Aug. 16.-Civil- service CON-
missioner Edgerton is busy tonight making the
final revisions in his report on the alleged viola
tons of the civilservice law in the Chicago post.
Office. He said that the reports of the board
would probably be made public tomorrow. ST
say reports" said the Commissioner, because
there will certainly be two. and the probabilities
are that there will be three. Mr.. Lyman has
examined my report, and he does not agree with
the conclusion have drawn. He is preparing
report of his own, hich. 1 am in
clned to think, will differ radically
from this OF mine I feel sure.
too. that Mr.. Oberly will have report cf his
own, which, while it may agree with mine in
several particulars, will differ from it greatly in
several material points" Mr. Edgerton was
asked to allow his report to be seen, but he de-
clned to do so. as he said the whole matter will
be made public in day or two, at the furthest
General Views About the Service
Washington Special.
Mr.. Edgerton. the president of the Civil ser
vice Commission, doesn't intend to get left if he
can help it in the scrub race of everybody con-
nected with civil service matters to make the
reform ridiculous. II shall take the opportunity
in the report the investigation of the Chicago
postmaster and customs collector" said Com
missioner Edgerton to a representative of the
Baltimore Sun, ''to make known my views con-
cerninS these expensive and ridiculous inquiri es
into matters over which the commission has No
control whatever. I do not believe in such in
vestigations. because the commission has no
time to be running about the country hearing
the evidence of inefficient people who have been
dismissed from the government, and hence their
desire to wreak vengeance the unapprscia-
tive official who refused consider their
services invaluable There is occasion for
these Investigations. The work of the commits
sion is one continued investigation of modified
and perfectly proper kind. All papers coming
before US are carefully examined. and if we dis
cover any flaws, explanations at once de-
manded. How absurd is an investigation by
tribunal that cannot punish. We spend govern
ment time and money in overhauilng the acts of
an official, and If we discover any evidence of
wrong, what we dos Nothing. / contend
the power of commission ends when appoint
ment IS made. The instant a person is taken
from our eligible register we have no further
authority to the disposition of such person.
The commission is here to procure efficient peo-
pie for the public service: that being accom-
plshed, we have performed our duty. What
becomes of the people who pass through the
commission after they receive appointments is
of our business. shall treat very fully on
this subject in the Chicago report"
In the Post to-day Mr.. Edcerton is found
further airing his curious views:
Its all stuff and nonsense for Geo. VIM.
Curtis to say as he did at the recent meeting of
the National Ciyil-service Reform League at
Newport, that this not civil-service reform ad-
ministration This is q civil-service reform ad.
minlstration far this is civll-eervice
form country; and as far as the competitive civils
service system has been expressed in the lsgis-
lation of this country this administration up
holds the competitive civil-service system. It
is not for President Cleveland nor any of his
sstants in the administration OF this govern
ment to go beyond the laws enacted by Con-
gress.
mo doubt more Democrats appointed to
the classified service than Republicans The
reason is that more pass the examination, more
are candidates The Repu olican politicians have
sent out the word that Republican candidates
have chance, and Republicans who would 9TH
erwise present themselves for examination are
thereby kept away. Under the Republican
gime it was just the other way. The Demo-
cratic politicians persuaded Democratic aspir-
ants for the classified service that it would be
useless to compete"